Over 100 injured in IPFT-GMP clash in Tripura

Agartala, Sept 19 (PTI) Over a hundred activists of the Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), the tribal wing of the ruling CPI- M, were today injured in a clash with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) at Chhankhola area of Khowai district, about 40 km from here.

Khowai Superintendent of Police Nagendra Debbarma told reporters that the clash took place when the Parishad supporters gathered at the bus stand at Khowai town to travel to Agartala for a GMP rally.

A group of IPFT activists present there were allegedly angered when they were told about the rally by GMP leader and MLA Padma Kumar Debbarma.

"An altercation ensued but did not escalate into a clash at the bus stop due to interference by other people. The MLA along with GMP workers started for Agartala by buses," the SP said.

However, when the buses reached Chhankhola village some distance away, a group of IPFT activists hiding in the forest targeted the vehicles with catapults and arrows, forcing them to stop, he said.

After this the IPFT workers attacked the GMP activists with sticks and iron rods and injured at least 118 of them, six seriously, and damaged at least 15 buses, the SP said.

Forty-eight injured GMP activists were admitted to Khowai hospital and the six critically injured were shifted to Agartala Government Medical College Hospital.

Sixty-four people were released after first aid, he said.

The CPI-M has condemned the attack as an act of cowardice and sought exemplary punishment for the attackers.

"This is a preplanned attack by a political party to the activists of another party, which is heinous and undemocratic," CPI-M central Committee member, Gautam Das told PTI.

IPFT president N C Debburma claimed that four of his party members were injured in the clash.

The clash broke out when a vehicle carrying GMP supporters hit a scooter being driven by an IPFT activist at Chhankhola, where a procession by the party (IPFT) was moving on the road, he said.

Personnel from the Tripura State Rifles and Assam Rifles were deployed in sensitive areas of the district and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in Tulashikhar and Rajnagar apprehending breach of peace, the SP said. PTI JOY KK BSA

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn't like in the comments